Passing the buck

On a day when petrol prices crossed the Rs 100-mark, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the middle class would not have been burdened if the previous governments had focused on reducing India's energy import dependence. If previous governments are to blame, surely this also includes the previous NDA government. In 2013, under his leadership the BJP had opposed the petrol price hike (Rs 72 when internationally, the price of a barrel was above $130). Whereas, now, the BJP increases petrol and diesel prices every day, currently at Rs 100 while the international price is $60. Why is the Modi government not considering the inclusion of petroleum products under GST?

Bidyut Kumar Chatterjee